Benoît Poirier

Benoît Fidèle Poirier (17 October 1882 – 7 October 1965) was a Canadian organist, composer, and music educator. His compositional output consists of several motets, patriotic songs, and works for solo piano and organ, the latter being the most significant and popular.

He was born Benjamin Perry in Tignish, Prince Edward Island. His pipe organ study began when he was 13. He studied at the francophone University of St. Joseph's College, Memramcook, New Brunswick, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1902 and was granted an honorary Master of Arts in 1928. While an undergraduate there, he was also organist of St Thomas Church, Memramcook.

In 1903 Benoît relocated to Montreal to study for the priesthood. He taught at the Collège de Montréal and became the organist of the Séminaire de Philosophie. In 1919 he was elected to the board of the Schola cantorum, later serving as its president from 1923 to 1925. He was the director of the Conservatoire national de musique from 1923–1925 and also served on the school's board of examiners for many years. From 1921 to 1925 he taught at the Sacré-Coeur Convent, Sault-au-Récollet, Quebec. From 1953 to 1959 he was the director and principal teacher of the Conservatoire Royal de Montréal. His notable pupils included Eugène Lapierre and Alfred Tardif.

He was organist at a number of churches in Montreal, including Ste-Hélène (1906), St. Patrick's Basilica, Montreal (1908), Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Church (1909), and St-Jacques Cathedral (1914). In 1921 he succeeded Joseph-Daniel Dussault as the organist at Notre-Dame Basilica, remaining in that post through 1954. He regularly presented organ recitals throughout his career. He died in Laval, Quebec.

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